AP investigation revealed State Department preparing to revoke B1/B2 visas of up to 200,000 asylum seekers

On August 24, 2026, The Associated Press reported that the State Department is preparing to revoke the B1 and B2 business and tourism visas of up to 200,000 people who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the United States, based on State Department documents and interviews with two U.S. officials. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed on the record that the department is coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security to identify and revoke the visas of "foreigners who have come to the United States claiming to be short-term visitors, but then file for asylum to stay here permanently." He declined to specify how many visas would ultimately be revoked, saying the process is ongoing and "the number of revocations remains dynamic and will be done on a rolling basis." The plan would target B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 whose holders have sought or are currently seeking asylum.

Officials told the AP the revocations would not automatically trigger deportation: people with pending asylum cases would instead be recategorized and lose their business or tourist status while their applications remain under review. If carried out, officials said, the action would be the largest single mass revocation of visas in U.S. history. The population targeted is defined entirely by having exercised the legal right to apply for asylum, rather than by any individualized finding of fraud or ineligibility. The State Department is expected to formally announce the action within weeks, and the AP reported it would likely face legal challenges.